Aristocratic_Otter

[aristocratic-otter]

Ten Questions for Writers

Thank you @artsyunderstudy, @facewithoutheart and @nausikaaa for the tag! So, it's that time again, huh? Well, some things have changed since I last did one of these, so here goes.

How many works do you have on AO3? 35 but one was a group fic (Birthday Man). So technically 34.

What’s your total AO3 word count? 957,040 - 39,132 for birthday man (not going to try to figure out how many words my chapter in that fic was) = 917,908. So close to that million words!

What fandoms do you write for? Carry On only.

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? Always. I can't say my responses are always inspired because, just like in real life, sometimes I just don't know what to say. But I always reply, because I know for myself how hard it can be to write a comment, so I want to honor that. That, and I'm really truly grateful for everyone who takes the time to tell me what they liked about my work!

Have you ever had a fic stolen? No...my fics are pretty long and specific, it'd be really hard to pass something of mine off as someone else's. I know it hasn't happened on AO3, though I can't speak to Tumblr or other platforms, since I don't spend much time there.

Have you ever co-written a fic before? Yes, Birthday man, of course. And the Star Trek Redemption series is a lovely collab with many talented people. But also, I consider all of the many artists I've worked with co-authors, because so much of what I write comes from bouncing ideas off of them and being inspired by their art. So I'm considering @krisrix, @ivelovedhimthroughworse, @frjsti, @moments-au-crayon22, @artsyunderstudy, @alexalexinii,

@steppjes, @letraspal and @cutestkilla as cowriters

7. What’s your all-time favourite ship? The one and only OTP, Simon and Baz

8. What are your writing strengths? Hmm...I think I'm good with blocking, because I visualize my stories in my head before I write them down, so I'm good about knowing where characters are in space at all times. I'm also pretty good at characterization? And while my fics aren't usually laugh-out-loud funny, lots of comments point out things that are amusing, so I guess I write humor fairly well. Definitely good at scientific background stuff, of course. I don't know, other than that.

What are your writing weaknesses? Plot, plot, plot...not that I don't write decent plots. I think I do. But it can take me hours of dwelling on how to get characters from one plot point to the next. I tend to plan a fic in broad outlines and leave out minor details, and then I get bogged down in the details later. Other than that? I have trouble with witty banter. I can do dialogue, but I struggle with, for example, coming up with amusing insults for Baz to use on Simon. It just doesn't come naturally, because in RL, I'm the type who thinks of the witty response hours after the conversation ended!

Oh, also I suck at continuity. I constantly have to go back and read earlier chapters because I can't remember what I already had a character do or say.

First fandom you wrote for? CSI is the one I'll admit to.

I have no idea who's done this, so I'll tag: @cutestkilla, @carryonsimoncarryonbaz, @angelsfalling16, @palimpsessed, @bookish-bogwitch,

@best--dress, @emeryhall, @hushed-chorus, @prettygoododds, @larkral

[thewholelemon]

Six Sentence Monday

It's a day off for me today and my Batman AU is on my mind. I'm trying to finish the final chapter and give Simon some rest. It's been hard, mostly because spending a lot of time with Simon on the (metaphorical but also sometimes literal) couch is always hard for me. I feel a lot of empathy for him in these moments, and it's hard not to feel what he's feeling. But also, I want some resolution for him, you know? I want him (me) to know there's light ahead.

It's just, in order to write that, I have to believe that there's light ahead, and sometimes it's hard to live in that space. I trust there will be light. I just can't actually see it and I can't write it.

But, I have a draft. No word if it works yet, it will probably need edits, but maybe that can get posted soon.

In other news, I tore through Thirty Love by Tom Vellner and that was a true delight. Highly recommend. And now I'm watching the French Open, which is pretty great, even though I still don't 100% understand the scoring conventions. I need to spend some time on Wikipedia to figure it out.

Under the cut, some Simon thinking about Baz and also tags.

Of course, if he’s honest, in the back of his mind, Simon wonders if he might run into Baz at the Goat. It’d be cute, right? Very romantic-comedy of them. It’s about time the universe gave him some good fortune anyway. He stops on the pavement. He’s still alive. It’s possible the universe feels like he’s gotten his fair share of good fortune at this point. He pulls out his mobile.

We'll see if these lines stay.

What have y'all been up to? I miss you!

@alexalexinii @aristocratic-otter @artsyunderstudy @bachusekart @best--dress

@blackberrysummers @bookish-bogwitch @bookishbroadwayandblind @brilla-brilla-estrellita @confusedbiqueer

@cutestkilla @dohrnaira @drowninginships @facewithoutheart @fiend-for-culture

@iamamythologicalcreature @ileadacharmedlife @ivelovedhimthroughworse @j-trow-95 @jyae23

@katatsumuli @larkral @larkthorne @leithillustration @letraspal

@manicmagicat @martsonmars @monbons @mooncello @musicallychaos  

@nausikaaa @noblecorgi @onepintobean @orange-peony @pato-roldnart

@palimpsessed @papierhaikuphoto @prettygoododds @raeny-day @rimeswithpurple

@run-for-chamo-miles @shrekgogurt @skeedelvee @talentpiper11  @the-beard-of-edward-teach 

@theimpossibledemon @valeffelees @whatevertheweather @youarenevertooold @you-remind-me-of-the-babe

[artsyunderstudy]

WIP Wednesday

Hello friends! You might have noticed I finally crawled out of my cave and posted a chapter and then promptly warned everyone not to read it. If you braved it anyway, bless. I am extending my arms stretch-armstrong style to wrap you up in a much needed hug. Luckily you won't have to wait too long for a conclusion, I AM posting the next chapter on Sunday. And it DOES offer ... something. Based on beta feedback, I think it's a good something.

Here's the least spoilery thing I could grab from said next chapter. (Which is a reasonable 5k btw and NOT another 13k behemoth. I swear none of the remaining chapters will be that long. Absolutely ridiculous.) (In my defense the 13k beast was originally two chapters that shacked up and made a giant angst baby.)

It’s warmer here than the rest of the labyrinth, but he shudders violently as the air touches his bare skin. He pushes forward, stepping through patches of dirt and grass to reach it. [Redacted.] What he’s spent years searching for. Years that have done nothing to prepare him. Nothing to shield the remains of his heart.  Everything hurts: his injured palm and temples throb, his empty stomach turns, and his magick screams inside him like a caged animal. It thunders through him, threatening to climb up his throat like bile, to burn through his belly like acid. When he glances at his feet, he finds the surrounding grass has already begun to curl and crumble. All the green withers.

Tags and hellos beneath the cut!

@stitchy-queerista @rimeswithpurple @ileadacharmedlife @aristocratic-otter @letraspal @whatevertheweather @carryonsimoncarryonbaz @raeny-day @shrekgogurt @prettygoododds @brilla-brilla-estrellita @ivelovedhimthroughworse @martsonmars @c0nsumemy5oul @facewithoutheart @alexalexinii @iamamythologicalcreature @supercutedinosaurs @best--dress @messofthejess @mooncello @bookish-bogwitch @confusedbiqueer @youarenevertooold @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @cutestkilla @thewholelemon @hushed-chorus @forabeatofadrum @noblecorgi @monbons @run-for-chamo-miles @valeffelees @drowninginships @talentpiper11 @j-trow-95 @bookishbroadwayandblind @the-beard-of-edward-teach @larkral @bachusekart @angelsfalling16 @blackberrysummers @probablily @leithillustration @ebbpettier @asocialpessimist @orange-peony @fiend-for-culture @jyae23 @pato-roldnart

[monbons]

Stitch Sunday

It's May! I have exactly one month left of school before summer break, and I could not be more ready. This school year was a doozy, and I had so much trouble writing for much of it. Maybe after some rest, I'll find words again. In the meantime, I've spent much of my free time reading and sewing. Some books I've finished and LOVED recently (in no particular order):

Apparently Sir Cameron Needs to Die - This book is wild. Part fantasy, part-sci-fi, all hilarious nonsense. Merulo and Sir Cameron gave me serious SnowBaz vibes but completely unhinged.

Sorcery and Small Magics - I finished this book and IMMEDIATELY re-read it. Then I listened to the audiobook. Then I bought the special edition Fairy Loot version of the hardcover. I am *obsessed.* Leo and Grimm may eventually have to become dolls...

Never After - I love Alexis Hall, and I love angst. I knew going in this book would hurt, and boy did it deliver. To describe it as a romance is not quite correct, although there is a couple at the center of it. The better description would be angst buffet that contemplates what it means to love, to live, and to believe. It is also some of Hall's most beautiful writing so I very much enjoyed getting stabbed in the heart.

As for my stitches, I hope you saw my MerMay art! If you didn't, I've linked it here. A little behind-the-scenes on the details below, as well as a preview of my Pride Month art!

I started doll-making exactly two years ago, and I love measuring my progress by remaking things as my skill and style evolves. One of my favorite details about these mermaids (that you can see in the historical mermaids I highlighted in the post as well) is that I always strive to give Baz and Simon distinct body types. Baz's body and tail are both thinner and longer than Simon. And Simon' booty is adorable and plump!

Isn't that sparkle lovely? Also, figuring out where to shoot the final picture was hard. I didn't want the boys to accidentally topple into a pool or river, but I wanted something beach-y. Solution? Take them to the sandbox at a local playground!

As for my upcoming pride art? I have committed to as many cast members as possible. So far, I've made Simon, Baz, Shep, Penny, Agatha, and my very first Niamh! You can find a preview of her below.

Until next time, may you find books to love and hobbies to fill your cup! @alexalexinii, @aristocratic-otter, @arthurkko, @artsyunderstudy, @bachusekart, @best--dress, @blackberrysummers, @brilla-brilla-estrellita, @bookish-bogwitch, @cutestkilla, @emeryhall, @facewithoutheart, @harrie-leithillustration, @hushed-chorus, @iamamythologicalcreature, @ic3que3n, @ileadacharmedlife, @katatsumuli, @larkral, @letraspal, @mooncello, @orange-peony, @pato-roldnart, @prettygoododds, @raeny-day, @rbkzz, @run-for-chamo-miles, @rimeswithpurple, @shrekgogurt, @skeedelvee, @stitchyqueer, @talentpiper11, @the-beard-of-edward-teach, @theimpossibledemon, @thewholelemon, @whatevertheweather, @you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @youarenevertooold, @jyae23, @j-trow-95, @martsonmars, @probablily, @sleepyphobzz, @confusedbiqueer, @manicmagicat

[prettygoododds]

You won’t believe this. I. Have. Sentences!!!

I’ve been chipping away at Questions We Don’t Ask, and feeling good about the next part being near finished.

Enjoy this phone convo between Simon and Baz:

“Not that I want you to tell her, but,’ he stops, takes a deep breath and the line goes so silent I think we’ve been disconnected. I’m about to check as he starts up again. “But I think. Fuck. Then we—”

“No.”

"I'm just saying—“”

“Well don’t,” I say sharply, angry that my brain is already trying to fill in the gaps from the unspoken words. “That’s one unfairness too far.”

”Yeah,” he says, sadness dripping from the end of the word like a tear. “I’m sorry. Still, don’t like, make it a point to tell her. That would fuck shit up pretty bad.”

”I wasn’t planning on it.”

Since I’m early enough to tag people:

@jellousbiafrous @ic3-que3n @dohrnaira @thewholelemon @facewithoutheart

@artsyunderstudy @wellbelesbian @rimeswithpurple @aristocratic-otter @cutestkilla

@blackberrysummers @nausikaaa @iamamythologicalcreature @ileadacharmedlife @martsonmars

@you-remind-me-of-the-babe @youarenevertooold @noblecorgi @bookishbroadwayandblind @bookish-bogwitch

@talentpiper11 @alexalexinii @monbons @leithillustration @imagineacoolusername

[artsyunderstudy]

Six Sentence Sunday

Thank you so much everyone who tagged me this morning, I love seeing things so active and so of course I want to join in. The problem is that everything I have for Monsters is so context dependent and spoilery, so I don't know how much fun it is to read. But I got a lot of comments on this portion of my draft from betas that these descriptions were pretty. I think I may have been born to write about the woods.

Here is far more than six sentences.

The journey here was strange—there’s no other word for it.  He’d done as Blue told him and taken the western fork of the river. An otherworldly green moss blanketed the trees along the steady stream. Spotted mushrooms capped in gold and red peppered the shore. Where the deep wood had been steeped in shadow, the winding path along the water’s edge was bright in spite of the thickness of the canopy. The sun spilled through semi-transparent leaves, highlighting every vein. Even when the sky split open and began to storm, it only served to make the landscape shimmer, like iridescent minerals in the stone.  The thunder roared louder than anything in Simon’s head or heart, and somehow he found stillness. As he’d laid at the foot of a sprawling oak, pillowed against moss-covered roots, Simon stared up at the space between trees. Rain pattered against the hood of his cloak and flickered white in the pale light of the wisps. And through it all, the grass below him stayed lush. The moss stayed green. Simon woke to the smell of petrichor and wildflower and with his heart, for the first time in years, a little less heavy. Was this place too vast—too alive—for his rot to take hold? He’d swallowed down the hope.  He spits it to the ground now, to where his cursed magick once more eats at the grass beneath his boots.

The arc for this final leg of older Simon's journey was so tricky because it's almost completely psychological. But I feel solid about where it's landed thanks to good feedback. So much of this story is about the consequence of unprocessed grief and he's finally ... at least starting to process. I have tentatively set myself a deadline of May 3 to start posting chapters again. I would love to finally have this out in the world.

Tags and hellos below the cut!

@stitchy-queerista @rimeswithpurple @imagineacoolusername @ileadacharmedlife @aristocratic-otter @letraspal @whatevertheweather @carryonsimoncarryonbaz @raeny-day @shrekgogurt @prettygoododds @brilla-brilla-estrellita @ivelovedhimthroughworse @martsonmars @c0nsumemy5oul @facewithoutheart @alexalexinii @iamamythologicalcreature @supercutedinosaurs @best--dress @messofthejess @mooncello @bookish-bogwitch @confusedbiqueer @youarenevertooold @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @cutestkilla @thewholelemon @hushed-chorus @forabeatofadrum @noblecorgi @monbons @run-for-chamo-miles @valeffelees @drowninginships @talentpiper11 @j-trow-95 @bookishbroadwayandblind @the-beard-of-edward-teach @larkral @bachusekart @angelsfalling16 @blackberrysummers @probablily @leithillustration @ebbpettier @asocialpessimist @orange-peony @fiend-for-culture @jyae23 @pato-roldnart

[monbons]

Stitch Sunday

Thanks for that tags @mooncello and @thewholelemon! It's fun to see you both out to play on this very rainy day (where I am anyway). I am so excited for whenever both your AUs finally debut. I can tell they are going to be fabulous.

In my corner of the woods, there are no SnowBaz words, but I finished my MerMay art (very ahead of schedule), so I am starting my incredibly ambitious pride art. I don't want to give away too much about that, but I will say that my goal is to have much of the cast present in addition to Simon and Baz. I plan to include Penny, Shep, and Agatha. I also want to do Niamh, but I need to come up with a design. This is the first one I will make ever. If you all have ideas or fan casts to send my way, I'll happily accept them!

In the meantime, here are some super closeups of my current work.

May your Sunday be as sparkly as mine, even if it is also overcast and rainy!

@alexalexinii, @aristocratic-otter, @arthurkko, @artsyunderstudy, @bachusekart, @best--dress, @blackberrysummers, @brilla-brilla-estrellita, @bookish-bogwitch, @cutestkilla, @emeryhall, @facewithoutheart, @harrie-leithillustration, @hushed-chorus, @iamamythologicalcreature, @ic3que3n, @ileadacharmedlife, @katatsumuli, @larkral, @letraspal, @mooncello, @orange-peony, @pato-roldnart, @prettygoododds, @raeny-day, @rbkzz, @run-for-chamo-miles, @rimeswithpurple, @shrekgogurt, @skeedelvee, @stitchyqueer, @talentpiper11, @the-beard-of-edward-teach, @theimpossibledemon, @thewholelemon, @whatevertheweather, @you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @youarenevertooold, @jyae23, @j-trow-95, @martsonmars, @probablily, @sleepyphobzz, @confusedbiqueer, @manicmagicat

[thewholelemon]

Six Sentence Sunday

Y'all, the amount of work I do every week to find this banner again. Why can I never find it? I saved it again, in my downloads folder like I do literally every file I've ever opened, so we'll see if I manage to locate it next time. Thank you again to @rimeswithpurple for making it for me. It is beautiful enough to be worth searching for.

This weekend I finished Cherry Baby. Looking forward to everyone's thoughts! I didn't love it as much as I loved Slow Dance, but there was lots I did love in it. Next I'm finishing Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die and no I'm not done yet but I'm still highly recommending it. It is hilarious and a journey and I love these characters very very much.

My CORB is inching along! Work is busy so it's not flying by, but forward movement is forward movement. Tags and slightly more than six sentences under the cut from my friends Baz and Penny:

“He'll be here any minute now,” I say, adjusting my shirt yet again. “And he’s bringing his friend so don’t start anything.” “He’s bringing his friend??” Penny screeches. “So he can spy on us????” “He’s not spying. Simon just doesn’t have much family. Shep’s coming with his grandmother as part of his family.” “This is very suspicious,” Penny grumbles. “I thought he didn’t have any family.” “It’s just him and his grandmother. Let the man have some found family.”

do you want to share what you're working on? Hope your Sunday is peaceful and your week feels good:

@alexalexinii @aristocratic-otter @artsyunderstudy @bachusekart @best--dress

@blackberrysummers @bookish-bogwitch @bookishbroadwayandblind @brilla-brilla-estrellita @confusedbiqueer

@cutestkilla @dohrnaira @drowninginships @emeryhall @facewithoutheart

@fiend-for-culture @iamamythologicalcreature @ileadacharmedlife @j-trow-95

@jyae23 @katatsumuli @larkral @leithillustration @musicallychaos

@letraspal @martsonmars @monbons @mooncello @nausikaaa 

@noblecorgi @onepintobean @orange-peony @pato-roldnart @palimpsessed 

@papierhaikuphoto @prettygoododds @raeny-day @probablily @rimeswithpurple

@run-for-chamo-miles @shrekgogurt @skeedelvee @talentpiper11  @the-beard-of-edward-teach 

@theimpossibledemon @valeffelees @whatevertheweather @youarenevertooold @you-remind-me-of-the-babe

[leithillustration]

Monologue Monday

As is adhd tradition, Sunday once again passed me by without notice until I saw some lovely tags from @monbons, @thewholelemon, and @artsyunderstudy. You guys are like creative titans to me, holding up our community with your wonderful updates and keen sense of what day of the week it is. Thank you for your service.

So with Sunday already gone, I figured it was time to impliment my failsafe Monday Monologue, which I invite any and all, regardless of tags below, to take part in if you'd like to share something you've been working on, or a general update. I'm doing both. See some rambles and (Snowbaz) sentences below the cut.

General Update

I was really hoping to be writing/sharing more regularly in 2026, but creating has been hard for me so far this year. My mental health is better than it was (thank you spring, once again you've arrived just in time to pull me back from the dispair of winter) and I'm gradually getting back into writing and drawing. My relationship with it feels tenuous right now, so I'm trying not to put too much pressure on it/avoiding direct eye contact with it incase my ability to create sees me and skitters back under the sofa to hide again.

Interestingly, during this time I've also found it hard to read and engage with other fics. I have no idea why, but its definitely had a negative impact on my sense of creativity. 

This past week I've managed to write a little bit, and I am determined to finish the Snowbaz fic I've been doing for @iamamythologicalcreature. It's not huge but still splits nicely into a few different parts. Crucially I am NOT allowed to post any of these parts to Ao3 until it is completely finished, since the lure of being able to share it is the main thing that's motivating me right now. (That in itself doesn't sound unusual but it really is for me. Normally I write for myself and any audience is kind of secondary. It's jarring having it be the other way around and I don't know how to switch it back!)

Sentences

Baz POV

Neither of us speak. I suspect he wants to— he keeps opening and closing his mouth like a fish trying to breathe out of water. I want to lean over and kiss his words away. I can't have him talk right now. If we start to discuss this, I'll back out. I'll remember this is a terrible idea and will only lead to more pain. For once, I don't want to think about consequences. For one night, I want to feel as good as I did the last time Simon Snow was in my bed. A small, painfully naive part of myself hopes this time could be different. That maybe we won't just get a night together but a morning too. Fuck I wish I didn't feel too self conscious to snog someone in the back of a taxi.

That's all for now folks! Share if you’d like to, no pressure if not. Wishing you all a great week. 

@alexalexinii, @angelsfalling16, @argumentativeantitheticalg, @aristocratic-otter, @artsyunderstudy, @best—dress, @blackberrysummers, @bookishbroadwayandblind, @cattocavo, @confusedbiqueer, @cutestkilla, @eepybois, @fiend-for-culture, @handmemyglockenspiel-imgoingin, @iamamythologicalcreature, @ileadacharmedlife, @jyae23, @katatsumuli, @kidspawn, @larkral, @leofrun, @lovelyladzzzz, @maddyisenough, @monbons, @mooncello, @nausikaaa, @orange-peony, @prettygoododds, @primusofminerva, @raeny-day, @rimeswithpurple, @scribble-tier, @simon-pitch, @smoky-solitude, @that-disabled-princess, @the-beard-of-edward-teach, @theimpossibledemon, @thewholelemon, @tragediegh, @unhappytogekiss, @youarenevertooold, @you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @willowjh, @wingedaches

[artsyunderstudy]

Six Some Sentences Sunday

Hello dear friends. I hope everyone is doing alright. This year is absolutely racing by. I've been working on Monsters, which ... GOD I am so close to done. I have one more particularly difficult chapter to finish writing, mostly hard because it needs to be short but also contain a good bit of information. Then the rest I really think (HOPE) is going to go fast. I would love to start posting again in May. THIS IS THE GOAL.

I've been aggressively editing the next chapter to get it ready, it was a little bit of a mess but thanks to my exceptional betas I am getting a lot closer to where I want to be. Here is one heart-pounding moment, for your enjoyment.

“Baz?” I ask through the door, smacking the wood with my palm. “If you’re there, let me in.” A long, uncomfortable moment passes. Silence. Remembering how I’d woken from the spell, I clap my hands together. It echoes down the stairs with its force, surely sharp enough to reach his ears. I do it once. Twice. Three times. “Baz, please. Hear me,” I beg, pressing my ear against the door, met only by the deafening rush of my own racing heart. “Heart, please—please, it’s Simon. Please let me in.” More silence. “Fuck,” I rasp, knocking my forehead against the wood.  I’ve never needed a door to reach him. And I will fucking reach him. I turn and rush back down the stairs.

Tags and hellos under the cut!

@stitchy-queerista @rimeswithpurple @imagineacoolusername @ileadacharmedlife @aristocratic-otter @letraspal @whatevertheweather @carryonsimoncarryonbaz @raeny-day @shrekgogurt @prettygoododds @brilla-brilla-estrellita @ivelovedhimthroughworse @martsonmars @c0nsumemy5oul @facewithoutheart @alexalexinii @iamamythologicalcreature @supercutedinosaurs @best--dress @messofthejess @mooncello @bookish-bogwitch @confusedbiqueer @youarenevertooold @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @cutestkilla @thewholelemon @hushed-chorus @forabeatofadrum @noblecorgi @monbons @run-for-chamo-miles @valeffelees @drowninginships @talentpiper11 @j-trow-95 @bookishbroadwayandblind @the-beard-of-edward-teach @larkral @bachusekart @angelsfalling16 @blackberrysummers @probablily @leithillustration @ebbpettier @asocialpessimist @orange-peony @fiend-for-culture @jyae23

[monbons]

Stitches and Sentences

Thanks for the tag, @thewholelemon! I debated posting today, but your ode to betas got me all up in my feels, so I figured I'd follow suit. Below, find updates on my latest stitches and fandom words, and below the cut, a little preview of my latest sentences, which are not SnowBaz, if you are interested.

STITCHES As I mentioned in my last WIPsday post, I decided to turn my guys from The Watford Writing Center into dolls. This fic was a silly little idea in my WIP folder that I was too busy overthinking for over a year and, had therefore, stalled myself into inaction. I am so glad that @10daysto1k finally gave me the low-pressure and fun structure I needed to get this story told! If you haven't seen the dolls, check them out here!

In other news, I have also started my mermay project, which I am so excited about, even though I am certain my hands will hate me for it eventually. Can you guess who these tails belong to? (And yes, one of these bejeweled booties will be wearing a necklace that would fit right in in a 90's Hollister 😂)

SENTENCES I am attempting to write a novel. Woof. It is much harder than I ever expected. The last several months have just been me puttering around in Docs or in my journal, throwing ideas around and seeing what sticks. It's looked nothing like writing a novel... or maybe depending on who you ask, exactly like writing a novel 😂

In any case, I think I finally hit a breakthrough this week. In Jenny's post, she waxed poetic about betas, and I fully agree! I'd like to credit my lovely betas for helping me push forward on writing a freaking book, because honestly it wouldn't be possible without them. In fact, just this past Friday I talked @thewholelemon's ear off about my challenges and the direction I was thinking about taking. Then @mooncello asked just the right question during our weekly writing date and sent my brain off on the most promising path I've found in ages. More importantly, both my betas have believed in this story even before my boys had names.

And they DO have names. Meet Xavi and Theo, my boys who will serve as foils for each other. I started journaling ideas earlier, so here is a peek at my process and my fan casts of my guys below:

Obviously this is very much a work in progress, but I am hopeful that eventually I will unlock the secret sauce and really hit the ground running. The only sad thing about this is the timing, since today is the last day of spring break and now I have to work instead of dream all day!

Hope you all are enjoying your Sunday, however you are spending it. May you also find inspiration today!

@alexalexinii, @aristocratic-otter, @arthurkko, @artsyunderstudy, @bachusekart, @best--dress, @blackberrysummers, @brilla-brilla-estrellita, @bookish-bogwitch, @cutestkilla, @emeryhall, @facewithoutheart, @harrie-leithillustration, @hushed-chorus, @iamamythologicalcreature, @ic3que3n, @ileadacharmedlife, @katatsumuli, @larkral, @letraspal, @mooncello, @orange-peony, @pato-roldnart, @prettygoododds, @raeny-day, @rbkzz, @run-for-chamo-miles, @rimeswithpurple, @shrekgogurt, @skeedelvee, @stitchyqueer, @talentpiper11, @the-beard-of-edward-teach, @theimpossibledemon, @thewholelemon, @whatevertheweather, @you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @youarenevertooold, @jyae23, @j-trow-95, @martsonmars, @probablily, @sleepyphobzz, @confusedbiqueer

[thewholelemon]

Six Sentence Sunday

Happy Sunday to you! Below the cut: a little bit about writing hey beautiful :) my text fic for 10 Days to 1K; an ode to betas; and six sentences from my CORB fic, which is wildly overdue but thankfully, thankfully, beginning to move.

Guys! I'm so happy I managed to post every day for 10 Days to 1k and complete my fic! I started this fic last summer with the main kernel being the twist in Day 9, but I got completely stuck on getting there. How much back-and-forth should I give them? Should it be completely texting or should it be prose, too? Were my text exchanges serving a purpose or just rambling? What's the point of anything anyway? Hair clutching, despair, and closing the doc always followed that one. I even thought about trying to post it during COC to try to get it out in the world, but it didn't fit well and 30 days would have been way too many.

@10daysto1k gave me the vehicle to move the plot forward and some external structure to get myself to the end. I really don't think I would have ever managed to get this posted without this writing challenge! Very grateful for that push.

This fic was so short and simple that I almost didn't ask anyone to beta it but I'm so glad I failed at that. Beta readers, y'all! People who will read your fic for free and put their finger on exactly the thing that wasn't working that you couldn't quite nail down??? Over and over sometimes? I don't think I'd love writing the same way I do if I was doing it by myself, and I'm so grateful to have people who will tell me they like what I write and also help me be better. It's one of my favorite things, both having people beta my work and reading other people's. If you've trusted me with your writing, know that it meant a lot to me and I loved doing it. And thank you to @monbons, @facewithoutheart, and @raeny-day for helping me bring Simon's chaotic text-base flirting over the finish line. ur no wrong number 2 me :):):)

CORB: it's coming!! A little bit at a time!!!! I was massively stuck on this but I think with a lot of rest and a super gracious partner to support me in reducing the pressure on myself, some things are shaking loose. Below, six sentences exactly, Baz POV, and I'm telling you nothing else for the moment:

“I still think you should have me on a call and leave your phone in your shirt pocket so I can listen in,” Bunce grumbles. “Absolutely not,” I hiss. “That’s weird and creepy.” “It’s research! You’re data-gathering.” “No, that’s spying."

I love when I can bring in canon details and twist them around. We'll see if these survive to the final draft!

Tagging everyone I mention above and you guys too; hope you get to do something today that makes you feel recharged:

@alexalexinii @aristocratic-otter @artsyunderstudy @bachusekart @best--dress

@blackberrysummers @bookish-bogwitch @bookishbroadwayandblind @brilla-brilla-estrellita @confusedbiqueer

@cutestkilla @dohrnaira @drowninginships @emeryhall

@fiend-for-culture @gwynskylar @iamamythologicalcreature @ileadacharmedlife @j-trow-95

@jyae23 @katatsumuli @larkral @leithillustration

@letraspal @manicmagicat @martsonmars @mooncello @nausikaaa 

@onepintobean @orange-peony @pato-roldnart @palimpsessed 

@papierhaikuphoto @prettygoododds @rimeswithpurple

@run-for-chamo-miles @shrekgogurt @skeedelvee @talentpiper11  @the-beard-of-edward-teach 

@theimpossibledemon @valeffelees @whatevertheweather @youarenevertooold @you-remind-me-of-the-babe

[monbons]

Stitches and Sentences

Happy Sunday all! I haven't had a sentences update in a while, but I am writing, it's just mostly been for my novel. I *did* however find time to write a sweet and silly and smutty little fic at the last minute for 10 days to 1K. If that interests you, sentences below the cut because they are spoilery.

STITCHES I don't have stitches to show off per se, but my hands-on project recently has been for my felt children. As a birthday gift to myself a few months ago, I ordered a doll house kit to give Baz and Simon a proper home. I finally used spring break to start building it. Here are some progress pics.

I'm not sure when the final reveal will be, since I need to decide what version of Baz and Simon get to live in it! I literally have dozens hanging out on my bookshelves 😂

In other stitch news, @mooncello and I have started dreaming up another potential collab, and I am toying with illustrating my current fic, The Watford Writing Center, which you can learn more about below.

SENTENCES The idea for writing a peer editor!Baz and disaster!Simon meet-ugly fic had been sitting in my WIP folder for ages---partly because I'm lazy, but mostly because my last fic got such poor engagement, I just didn't feel like the effort would be worth it.

If you know anything about me as a writer, even my simplest ideas tend to spiral into "literature." Quick fic concepts escalate into multi-chapter productions. I obsess over every detail of world-building and crafting symbols and communicating themes to a concerning degree. Given my penchant for always doing too much, I'm not surprised fic writing stopped being fun.

With that in mind, I decided to throw out all expectations with this fic. Is this the best fic I've ever written? Not by a long shot. Did I have to resist waxing poetic at every turn? Yes, thank you word counts. Am I enjoying myself? Absolutely. And isn't that what fic is about?

In any case, here is a quick preview for tomorrow's chapter, Baz POV. If you aren't caught up, don't read it yet!

“It's not the first time someone has sent me the wrong assignment,” I offer. “Mistakes happen.” “People have emailed you their porn before?” he mumbles. “Well, no, not porn per se. I can see why you might be embarassed.” Simon makes a sound that I think is meant to be a laugh, but comes out like a snort. I pause, picking my next words carefully. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong or shameful about writing steamy fanfic.” “Normally you don’t have to stare your readers in the face after they’ve just finished reading an explicit scene about knights getting railed.”

May you save yourself the embarrassment of ever sending anyone the wrong file!

@alexalexinii, @aristocratic-otter, @arthurkko, @artsyunderstudy, @bachusekart, @best--dress, @blackberrysummers, @brilla-brilla-estrellita, @bookish-bogwitch, @cutestkilla, @emeryhall, @facewithoutheart, @harrie-leithillustration, @hushed-chorus, @iamamythologicalcreature, @ic3que3n, @ileadacharmedlife, @katatsumuli, @larkral, @letraspal, @mooncello, @orange-peony, @pato-roldnart, @prettygoododds, @raeny-day, @rbkzz, @run-for-chamo-miles, @rimeswithpurple, @shrekgogurt, @skeedelvee, @stitchyqueer, @talentpiper11, @the-beard-of-edward-teach, @theimpossibledemon, @thewholelemon, @whatevertheweather, @you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @youarenevertooold, @jyae23, @j-trow-95, @martsonmars, @probablily, @sleepyphobzz, @confusedbiqueer, @manicmagicat

[prettygoododds]

It’s been so long, let’s see if I remember how to do this.

Thanks @thewholelemon for the tag, and for luring me out of hibernation with a 10 Days to 1K challenge. @10daysto1k

Not only do I have the first day of that to share, but also I worked on Questions We Don’t Ask this past weekend!

Let’s share the link first. Here’s day one, 100 words, prompt - crush

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

And now, for a few words from Questions:

“So, you get her flowers?”

“We’re married,” he repeats, face getting redder and eyes more narrowed.

“I could marry him,” I say, shrugging my shoulders and trying to sound nonchalant.

He snorts and chuckles, adjusting his half zipped jeans before confidently challenging, “You’re not marrying him.”

“Why not?” I challenge back, wondering when he seemed so certain of my loyalty to him. When did I show all cards while he hid his away, an extra up his sleeve for when he got desperate.

Let’s hope the momentum stays for a bit!

Tags:

@dohrnaira @facewithoutheart @artsyunderstudy @imagineacoolusername @wellbelesbian @rimeswithpurple @aristocratic-otter @cutestkilla @blackberrysummers @ileadacharmedlife @martsonmars @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @hushed-chorus @youarenevertooold @noblecorgi @bookishbroadwayandblind @bookish-bogwitch @monbons @leithillustration

[thewholelemon]

WIP WEDNESDAY

now featuring: a WIP!

100 thanks to @sillyunicorn for hosting @10daysto1k and giving me an excuse to get this text fic into the world. It's been floating around my google drive for ages and is now getting its chance to shine. and, having such very short chapters each day means this feels achievable! thank you for this. I have high hopes of getting everything done, on schedule even. we'll see if I succeed.

It's hard to post a snippet when each day is so short so I'll just give you some out-of-context text messages to tide you over, and I'm tagging you in case you want to share as well:

Baz: What's wrong with you? Annoyance: plenty ;)

Baz: I could have you arrested.

Agatha💋: go on then

Baz: Stop quoting Wikipedia at me.

Snow: look i caps it and used punctuation

Snow: I am being very proper with you.

hope you didn't get tricked too badly by anyone today; share if you care to:

@alexalexinii @aristocratic-otter @artsyunderstudy @bachusekart @best--dress

@blackberrysummers @bookish-bogwitch @bookishbroadwayandblind @brilla-brilla-estrellita @confusedbiqueer

@cutestkilla @dohrnaira @drowninginships @emeryhall @facewithoutheart

@fiend-for-culture @iamamythologicalcreature @ileadacharmedlife @j-trow-95

@jyae23 @katatsumuli @larkral @larkthorne @leithillustration

@letraspal @martsonmars @monbons @mooncello @nausikaaa 

@onepintobean @orange-peony @pato-roldnart @palimpsessed 

@papierhaikuphoto @prettygoododds @raeny-day @probablily @rimeswithpurple

@run-for-chamo-miles @shrekgogurt @skeedelvee @talentpiper11  @the-beard-of-edward-teach 

@theimpossibledemon @valeffelees @whatevertheweather @youarenevertooold @you-remind-me-of-the-babe

[aristocratic-otter]

WIP Tag Game!

Thank you for the tag, @larkral! What a fun game--I've not seen this one before!

Rules: You will be given a word, then you share an excerpt from your WIP(s) that start with each letter of your word.

My word was HEALS:

The word inspired me to use sentences from the current chapter I'm working on in my epidemiological fic, the Rat and the River:

H-He nods firmly at me, and, without another word, turns and strides off to his make-shift laboratory. 

E-Each bug, bird, mammal and reptile that shows up in Pippa’s traps has to be documented, examined for signs of illness, and then sampled so I can search through its blood for signs of our viral agent.

A-And I’m on edge not only because of the proximity of horrible illness and death, but also because I can’t stop perseverating on Dr. Love’s words. 

L-Little things like the way Pippa’s hand lingers on his arm when she’s talking his ear off, or the way Agatha’s smile is always a little warmer when she turns it on Simon than it is with the rest of us.

S-Still, when I signed up to join Snow’s team, I hadn’t thought about the fact that I might have to spend my time, once again, yearning after Snow, as he fucks his way through the female portion of the team. 

I've got no idea who might have done this already, so feel free to ignore this tag if you have! I tag @monbons, @artsyunderstudy, @cutestkilla and @leithillustration, and the word I choose is STUDY.

[leithillustration]

Hey friends, it's been a while. Many thanks to @tragediegh, @artsyunderstudy and @monbons for their recent tags. Its always wonderful seeing what you've been working on (and getting to be feral about it in the hashtags). I'm excited to finally reciprocate with a Crowman update!

🪽Winged Wardrobe Wednesday🪽

There comes a time in every cursed Crowman's life where he must ask himself 'wtf do I wear now I have wings?' Unfortunately, being the artist who created this problem, I have to come up with the answers.

So for the last few weeks I've been giving my Crowman the paper doll treatment, and now it's time to share the results with you (under the cut).

The Hangover

When the Crowman (henceforth CM) is first cursed, he wakes in the tattered remains of his former party outfit. His once flouncy shirt is torn and stained, his stockings are rumpled and no longer stay up, and his shoes are completely missing. It marks his break with the society he grew up in. His wings have completely torn through his jacket and waistcoat, leaving him with little more than rags on his back.

Make do and mend

To preserve his dignity in the forest, CM has to fashion himself an outfit from what little he has to hand. He starts off with a thin blanket (I swear I came up with this long before Victor in Arcane made wearing blankets all the rage, but it's got a similar vibe I'm not mad about) which he uses to create this cheeky halterneck-toga emsemble, using his old silk scarf as a belt. I might have him wrap his feet in fabric strips from his old trousers, but he'll quickly realise its impractical and go barefoot. Later he'll also use the remains of his shirt for boiled bandages. 

Bonus: In this sketch you also get to see me working out how on earth to draw wings. In all the other sketches in this post I focused solely on the costuming, so his wings and facial features are rough or non existant. I did this sketch last and realised I probably shouldn't put off drawing wings any longer since I'm literally basing an entire graphic novel on a guy with them. (Why did I do this to myself?)

Mysterious Horror

Arburgh meets CM in the introduction to the story, in the middle of the woods at night. This is what Arburgh first sees; a lumpy shadow in the trees, hardly distinguishable as man or beast. Arburgh immediaetly recalls all the horrifying tales he's heard about the cursed horror living in the forest. On seeing CM in full, Arburgh is terrified.

I wanted to reveal CM in stages, so the reader can take in different aspects of his curse gradually. Initially the focus is on his mystique, his links to the horrifying tales told about him. As he lifts his hood you'll see his beak and his hands (I gave him ombre black finger tips because why wouldn't I). Later, he'll reveal his massive wings across a double page spread I'm really looking forward to drawing.

Assassin vibes

Spoiler: CM is not an assassin. But the final evolution of his costune has that vibe. Why? Practicality! By the time Arbrugh meets him, CM has been living in the forest for at least a year. In that time he's worked out how to better garb himself while keeping himself warm, his wings free, and allowing full movement of all his limbs. Dark colours ensure an element of camoflage, while also infering his acceptance of being more crow-like in appearance. His sleeves are detachable, meaning he can go without in warm weather. The ends of his trousers are wound with leg wraps to keep them from flapping about when he's flying. He no longer uses his silk scarf as a belt. He has completely parted with humanity.

More coming soon! I have a lot more to share re costumes, so stay tuned for more sketches and notes over the next few weeks. I'm aiming to give you a fashion show for Cygnus next week.

In the meantime, what would your blorbos wear if they had wings? (Simon Snow community I know you're well practiced with this.) Tell me in the comments XD

No pressure tagging as an invitation to share anything you're working on (but only if you'd like to) and to say a big 'hello I've missed you' to everyone, regardless of whether you share or not ✨

@alexalexinii, @angelsfalling16, @argumentativeantitheticalg, @aristocratic-otter, @artsyunderstudy, @best—dress, @blackberrysummers, @bookishbroadwayandblind, @cattocavo, @confusedbiqueer, @cutestkilla, @eepybois, @fiend-for-culture, @handmemyglockenspiel-imgoingin, @iamamythologicalcreature, @ileadacharmedlife, @jyae23, @katatsumuli, @kidspawn, @larkral, @leofrun, @lovelyladzzzz, @maddyisenough, @monbons, @mooncello, @nausikaaa, @orange-peony, @prettygoododds, @primusofminerva, @raeny-day, @rimeswithpurple, @scribble-tier, @simon-pitch, @smoky-solitude, @that-disabled-princess, @the-beard-of-edward-teach, @theimpossibledemon, @thewholelemon, @tragediegh, @unhappytogekiss, @youarenevertooold, @you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @willowjh, @wingedaches

@rowynnellis @hattedhedgehog @eremeldanin I’m also adding you guys because I'm trying to be brave and share more with people I know IRL😬😬😬 Love you xx

Ps- I've updated my tags with some new moots. Hello new friends! If you'd rather not be tagged, or if you'd prefer to only be tagged on specific fandom/oc stuff stuff, lemme know (no judgement or offence taken at all I promise)